Rathen (Saxony) – Where the Grünbach waterfall falls ten meters over the rocks, the Amselfallbaude has existed for around 200 years. The excursion restaurant has been closed since a cliff descent and is rapidly falling into disrepair. Citizens, politicians and tourists now fear that the mountain hut will remain closed forever or, in the worst case, will even be demolished.
Since 1828, food and drinks have been offered in the restaurant in Saxon Switzerland. A downpour in 1906 destroyed the hut with the veranda. Therefore, in 1910, the state forest administration built the Amselfallbaude, which still exists today, as a log cabin.
Hoping for a reopening: Claudia Gawelick (33) and Tim Wöbken (33)
Since 1992, the information point of the national park has also been located there. Several rockfalls in 2017 led to the closure in 2019. The Free State only secured the hiking trail with a scaffolding tunnel.
There was already a crisis talk in the Ministry of Finance in 2020. “But nothing has happened since then,” says Hohnstein’s Mayor Daniel Brade (41, SPD). “I assume that all the money will flow into the Bastei view, nothing will be left for our Amselfallbaude.” Because securing the area could cost millions. Not only the building would have to be renovated – also the sandstone rock face above it.
–This hiker from Vienna didn’t know that the hut was closed
The host family Knaak, who ran the hut until it was officially closed, no longer believes in a reopening. Gerlinde Knaak (87): “My son Uwe checked on site last week to make sure everything was all right. He has given up all hope and is expecting demolition.”
The responsible state enterprise Saxon real estate and construction management remains monosyllabic when asked by BILD. A spokesman: “No further security measures are currently planned.”
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